Ayodhya Muslims meet shankaracharya, form trust for development

Voicing concern at the neglect of civic amenities in Ayodhya and Faizabad, a delegation of eminent Muslim citizens of the towns and the Kanchi Kamakoti Mutth in Kancheepuram formed a trust on Saturday to improve the living conditions.

A joint communique issued after a four-hour meeting the delegation had with Kanchi Shankaracharya Jayendra Saraswathi said civic development is the most important issue to be dealt with in Ayodhya and Faizabad.

Though several religious men have their base in Ayodhya, no steps have been taken to ensure proper health care, technical development, drinking water supply, and housing, the communique said.

The newly formed Kanchi-Ayodhya Nagara Development Trust will consist of only the citizens of the two towns. Members of both the Hindu and Muslim communities will try to improve the living conditions.

The communique said the Ayodhya issue should be settled by involving only the people of the town and keeping away the government and politicians, a line adopted by the seer.

The delegation comprising leaders of the Sunni and Shia sects of the districts and accompanied by Ayodhya Sankara Mutth manager Subramanya Iyer, has come on a two-day visit to Kancheepuram on the shankaracharya's invitation.